The most comfortable Harley-Davidson for long road trips in 2026

There was a time when Harley-Davidson had several full-dresser touring bikes. Subsequently, the bicycle maker has somewhat neglected the segment in recent years as it focused on renewing its baggage range. Now, in 2026, we are happy to announce that HD is going back to its roots by launching a new range of different full-dresser bikes. These range from regular Grand American Touring bikes to full-fledged CVOs in both two-wheel and three-wheel options. It is not surprising that the most comfortable Harley for long car journeys also comes from this series. Let’s jump in.

The CVO Street Glide Special is the most comfortable Harley for long road trips in 2026

There’s no denying that full-dresser bikes offer the most comfort for long road trips. This helped narrow our research, and our pick here is the new-for-2026 CVO Street Glide Special. Why, you ask? Because it is the boldest, coolest and most comfortable Harley-Davidson full-dresser of the moment.

From the flagship VVT engine and new Tour-Pak luggage to the advanced electronics and massive seats, the touring bike promises a larger-than-life experience in every way. This also applies to the price. The base price is set at a whopping $51,999, and it rises by $4,500 if you want the Citrus Orange color with its blacked-out mechanicals.

If that’s too much, then next is the non-CVO model. The standard Street Glide Special has a more modest character compared to its namesake CVO, with normal suspension, while also being equipped with the smaller Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine. You still get the Tour-Pak top box setup and the overall dimensions are similar too. All that means you’ll pay a lot less, as the base price is $32,999.

We would also like to give a shoutout to the CVO Street Glide 3 Limited. It has everything the CVO Street Glide Special offers, but with the added convenience of double rear wheels. So it’s a great bike for veterans who don’t want the hassle of balancing a heavyweight. You also get a single trunk at the rear here on the Tour Pak, instead of two saddlebags. All that convenience doesn’t come cheap, though, thanks to the sky-high base price of $54,999.

Comfortable, heated seats make the CVO Street Glide especially perfect for long distances

As we dive deeper, it’s only fair that we start with the comfort offered by the flagship CVO. You and your partner both get huge seats. Contoured padding, refined stitching and improved ergonomics are all present, along with a heating function. Additionally, there is a removable backrest for the rider, while the passenger rests on the cushioned Tour Pak top box. Sitting on the perch, you’ll also appreciate the new handles, floorboards and smoked windshield. For even more convenience, there is a heel adjuster.

Luxury features sweeten the pot

Then there is the luxurious cockpit. Harley’s massive 12.3-inch TFT takes center stage here, giving you access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, various display modes and a handful of electronic aids (more on these later). If you look closer, you’ll also see small storage areas and a premium set of Rockford Fosgate Stage II speakers. The latter consists of two speakers in the upper fairing, two in the lower fairing and two at the rear (all 6.5-inch ones). Other pithy but important inclusions include:

• Heated grips

• Additional LED lighting

• Fully LED lighting

• Cockpit goes down

• Cruise control

• Two saddlebags and one top case for storage (4.8 cubic feet)

• Tire pressure monitoring system

• Cubby storage with USB port

The CVO Street Glide Special has premium underpinnings from renowned brands

Comfortable seating means nothing if the ride quality isn’t smooth. That’s why Harley-Davidson has made sure you get top-notch equipment here. Harley’s Grand American Touring frame sits in the center and is suspended from beefy 48mm USD forks and dual rear shocks. Both suspensions come from Showa, but only the rear offers adjustability.

This is paired with 19/18-inch alloy wheels, with the front featuring dual brake discs and the rear a single disc. That’s the usual combination of brakes, but remember that the CVO weighs a whopping 919 pounds in ready-to-drive condition. In case you’re curious, this number is 81 pounds higher than the non-special CVO Street Glide.

You can forget about tight maneuvers on this Harley

Just like the weight, all other dimensions here are life-size. The length is over 103 inches, the width is over 40 inches and the wheelbase is 64 inches. All that means this is a land yacht that is difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. There is also no reverse gear for added convenience, like on the Gold Wing. What will comfort you is the low seat height of 26.4 inches, which means flat-footing should be quite easy.

The mighty Milwaukee-Eight 121 engine powers the CVO Street Glide Special

Last but not least there is the engine. Being a flagship Harley, you get the flagship Milwaukee-Eight 121 engine here. It features liquid and air cooling, variable valve timing and a punchy compression ratio of 11.4:1. These enable outputs of 115 horsepower and 139 pound-feet, the latter reaching just 3,000 rpm. All the power reaches the wheel via a six-speed transmission, while allowing for an efficiency of 45 miles per gallon.

Modern driver aids help control power delivery

Remember the electronic tools we mentioned earlier? Well, here you get cornering traction control, cornering ABS, enhanced drag-torque-slip control and vehicle hold control as standard. This is in addition to the Road, Rain, Sport and two Custom ride modes to make the bike more usable in all conditions.